How should new freelancers decide what to charge for their work?

As a freelance writer, I understand your dilemma! Do you charge for time, or expertise? By item (in my case, per word) or by job?

Or just stick your finger in the air and guess? Personally, I start by judging the time a given job will take. This is a little tricky when you first start out, but I work on the principle that I have a minimum wage per hour.

Then, I work out how much a given task (say, 500 words) takes me to do. Then, allow thinking time (!), research time and preparation time. Also bear in mind you can't work flat out for hours at a time without a break.

This gives you a ballpark figure for any given task within a time frame. Now, add in any associate costs of materials, travel, etc. Then, add approx 15% 'company running costs', i.e. How much you have to spend on your business regardless of whether the work happens or not - broadband, insurance, car tax, accountants fees, stationery, marketing, etc. Now add your required profit margin without being greedy - start at say 30% and see how it looks.

Allow a little slack in order to offer a potential discount if you are asked. If this still gives you a figure that pays the rent, feeds the family and leaves a little for a rainy day, fantastic. If you can earn more stacking shelves, recalculate.

Whatever you do, don't undersell yourself.As the advert says, you're worth it! After all, a service that is free is also worth nothing.... Good luck!

The golden rule is that new freelancers should keep their rates lower than the others, so that they have better chances of winning a bid, regardless of the quality of work they are going to deliver. Because the quality is of no use unless you get a foothold or an entry into the arena. Once you are there and earned some reputation about the quality of jobs you delivered, you can increase the charges slowly and slowly.

But if you keep your rates high, you may never get a chance to show your quality. I can tell this from self experience. Thanks.

Although it's true that keeping your rates lower than most freelancers will give you better chances of winning a bid, but if you don't have respectable experience under your belt, the company that you're applying for may end up thinking that the quality of your work isn't that great because of the low charges that you offer.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.